Ocean City Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting - October 8, 2026

The Ocean City Board of Zoning Appeals met on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 301 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, Maryland. The Board unanimously approved four administrative matters, then conducted one public hearing on a special yard exception requested for the Four Seasons Condominium Association. After testimony from the applicant, the condominium association president, and a professional land surveyor, and with no public comment, the Board unanimously approved the request. Staff also provided scheduling updates for upcoming meetings.

Consent Calendar / Administrative Matters

• Approved the minutes from the September 24, 2026 meeting unanimously (5-0).
• Approved the Findings of Fact for BZA 2751 (Alessandro Tacconelli) unanimously (5-0).
• Approved the Findings of Fact for BZA 2752 (GGI Builds, Inc. c/o Rich Hertzog) unanimously (5-0).
• Approved the Findings of Fact for BZA 2749 (Quinn McGinnes, Esq. for James E. LaRue, Inc.) unanimously (5-0). Note: the agenda identified this item as BZA 2749, but the motion in the transcript referred to it as 'BZA 2740 26-093001.'

Public Hearing - BZA 2753 (Four Seasons Condominium Association)

• Applicant Hugh Cropper IV, Esq., representing Four Seasons Condominium Association, requested a special yard exception to build a proposed ramp to the legally nonconforming 1.5-foot front yard setback rather than the 4-foot setback required by code. The property is at 13304 Assawoman Drive near Assawoman Drive and 133rd Street, in the R-3A Moderate Residential District. The agenda identifies the property as the southeast corner, while the staff report and transcript place it on the northeast corner. The file number appeared as 26-09400016 in the agenda and as 26-09400015 in the staff report/transcript.
• Staff explained that the R-3A front yard requirement is 10 feet, and Section 110-905 generally allows open porches, stairways, platforms, or ramps to extend no more than 6 feet into the required yard, leaving a 4-foot setback. The existing two sets of steps are legally nonconforming at approximately 1.5 feet from the front property line, and the proposed ramp would match that existing encroachment but go no farther. Staff confirmed the ramp would not encroach on the sidewalk, curb, street, or on-street parking spaces.
• Staff stated that the ramp is not an ADA-compliant ramp, so the code's ADA-specific setback provision could not be applied administratively; however, the request qualified for Board review as a special yard exception under Section 110-94(3)(a).
• Lorraine Rondo, condominium association president and unit owner since 1991, testified that the existing steps are in poor condition and sinking, the new ramp and step configuration would improve access for older residents carrying groceries and wheeled luggage, and it would not adversely affect neighboring properties. She also confirmed work with town staff on landscaping and lot coverage requirements.
• Lee Gillis, a registered professional land surveyor for 45 years, testified that he prepared the site plan, confirmed the new ramp would not exceed the existing condition, and stated the sidewalk would remain open and unencumbered. The ramp run is approximately 31 feet; the slope is gentle but cannot meet ADA requirements due to insufficient length or turns.
• No members of the public spoke for or against the application.

Board and Staff Comments

• Staff announced there will be no Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on October 22, 2026. The next meeting is scheduled for November 5, 2026, with at least one application for a new house in Sundowner Park, potentially one additional application, and an extension request related to the Olympic 1 apartments. The Board also noted the November 19, 2026 meeting date, with some members indicating likely absences.

Key Outcomes

• The Board found that the special yard exception criteria were satisfied, including that the proposal would not substantially adversely affect adjacent and neighboring properties and would not encroach into any existing or proposed right-of-way.
• A motion by John Moran, seconded by Sean Buckley, to approve the special yard exception for BZA 2753 passed unanimously (5-0).
• The meeting was adjourned without objection.